It's hard to see how new signing Braedyn Crowley will be anything less than a smash hit with Maitland Magpies fans. He's quietly spoken, but what he says will resonate. Why did he join Maitland? "I love the way they play, that competitiveness ... getting stuck in for each other," he said. "That's me too. They have that edge, that bit on mongrel, and I love that. "You only have to look at how many times they won games last season in the last five minutes to see it. "I can't wait to get there and get stuck in at training." It was no easy task luring the striker from Lambton Jaffas where he scored 15 goals last season to win the competition's Golden Boot award as leading goalscorer. "It was very tough, I have good mates there and didn't do this lightly," he said. "But I felt I needed a change, a new challenge, and Maitland got in contact and seemed to tick all the boxes. "I spoke to Bolchy (coach Mick Bolch) and liked what he said. He was up front and honest, and told me what he thought I could bring to the team." It should be pointed out here that Crowley, at 22, has the dream of returning to A-League football. Coming to Maitland is part of that. "I want to get better, keep pushing myself to keep the dream alive. "I think Maitland can help me do that," he said. "I want to get there, train hard and then play hard." It must be music to Bolch's ears. He points to that tenacity and drive that will make him a natural fit. "I spoke to his father up in Townsville and had a couple of chats with Braedyn," Bolch said. "He scored both times against us last season and I know just how difficult he is to contain. He's always scored everywhere he has played. He has speed and balance, a phenomenal player and a hard worker off the ball too." The big question is how will he fit with Joel Wood who was only one goal behind Crowley in last season's Golden Boot? "Joel is more of a target man who drops back and brings other players into the game," Bolch said. "Braedyn makes those darting runs in behind the line, so they could be very dangerous." It's a combination that has Crowley excited. "If we can get a combination going, we could cause other sides some problems."

New Maitland signing Braedyn Crowley is a Magpie with mongrel

It's hard to see how new signing Braedyn Crowley will be anything less than a smash hit with Maitland Magpies fans.

He's quietly spoken, but what he says will resonate.

Why did he join Maitland?

"I love the way they play, that competitiveness ... getting stuck in for each other," he said.

"That's me too. They have that edge, that bit on mongrel, and I love that.

Maitland have that edge, that bit on mongrel, and I love that.

"You only have to look at how many times they won games last season in the last five minutes to see it.

"I can't wait to get there and get stuck in at training."

It was no easy task luring the striker from Lambton Jaffas where he scored 15 goals last season to win the competition's Golden Boot award as leading goalscorer.

"It was very tough, I have good mates there and didn't do this lightly," he said.

"But I felt I needed a change, a new challenge, and Maitland got in contact and seemed to tick all the boxes.

"I spoke to Bolchy (coach Mick Bolch) and liked what he said. He was up front and honest, and told me what he thought I could bring to the team."

It should be pointed out here that Crowley, at 22, has the dream of returning to A-League football. Coming to Maitland is part of that.

"I want to get better, keep pushing myself to keep the dream alive.

"I think Maitland can help me do that," he said.

"I want to get there, train hard and then play hard."

It must be music to Bolch's ears.

He points to that tenacity and drive that will make him a natural fit.

"I spoke to his father up in Townsville and had a couple of chats with Braedyn," Bolch said.

FORMIDABLE: With Crowley joining Joel Wood up front, Maitland will have one of the competitions's most dangerous front lines.

"He scored both times against us last season and I know just how difficult he is to contain. He's always scored everywhere he has played. He has speed and balance, a phenomenal player and a hard worker off the ball too."

The big question is how will he fit with Joel Wood who was only one goal behind Crowley in last season's Golden Boot?

"Joel is more of a target man who drops back and brings other players into the game," Bolch said.

"Braedyn makes those darting runs in behind the line, so they could be very dangerous."

It's a combination that has Crowley excited.

"If we can get a combination going, we could cause other sides some problems."